Memphis Grizzlies eliminate Dallas Mavericks in play-in decider despite Anthony Davis’ 40-point showdown

The Memphis Grizzlies clinched the final playoff spot in the West with a 120-106 win over the Dallas Mavericks in Friday’s play-in showdown. Jaren Jackson Jr. led the charge with 24 points, setting up a first-round clash with the top-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder. Anthony Davis did his best to push the Mavericks to victory with 40 points, but the total score was far too short to chase. It’s a remarkable turnaround for Memphis, which finished 13th in the conference last season and now finds itself back in the postseason spotlight.

The Memphis Grizzlies have put up a dominant showdown against the Dallas Mavericks as they secured their playoff position to face the number 1 seed Oklahoma City Thunder.

The Grizzlies came through in a big way on Friday night at their home ground FedExForum, defeating the Dallas Mavericks 120-106 to grab the final playoff spot in the Western Conference. Jaren Jackson Jr. led the team with 24 points, shooting an efficient 10-of-18 from the field and knocking down 4-of-5 from three-point range. He also grabbed 7 rebounds and added 4 assists, proving once again why he’s a key piece of this Memphis squad.
Desmond Bane had a strong night as well, finishing with 22 points, 9 assists, and 5 rebounds. He shot 8-of-15 from the floor and was a reliable 3-of-6 from beyond the arc. Bane also went a perfect 3-of-3 from the free throw line and contributed defensively with 2 steals. Ja Morant added another 22 points with 9 assists, 7 rebounds, and 3 steals.

Zach Edey made a big impact in the paint, scoring 15 points on 7-of-9 shooting and pulling down 11 rebounds, including 6 on the offensive glass. Scotty Pippen Jr. chipped in with 13 points and 2 assists, while Santi Aldama added 11 points, 4 rebounds, and 3 assists in his 29 minutes on the court.
Off the bench, John Konchar finished with 5 points, 8 rebounds, and 2 assists. Marvin Bagley III added 6 points and 5 rebounds in limited minutes.
As for the Mavericks, they couldn’t find their rhythm in Friday night’s play-in decider. Despite a strong 40-point effort from Anthony Davis, the team struggled to keep up on both ends of the floor. Davis went 16-of-29 from the field and added 9 rebounds, 2 assists, and 3 blocks. However, he didn’t get enough help from the rest of the lineup.

Klay Thompson tried to provide some scoring punch, finishing with 18 points on 7-of-15 shooting, including 4 three-pointers. Naji Marshall scored 13 points with 5 assists. Brandon Williams added 16 points and a team-high 7 assists off the bench, but the Mavericks were still outplayed in key stretches.
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The team had a rough night from beyond the arc, shooting just 31.6% (12-of-38) from three-point range. They also turned the ball over 16 times, which led to easy buckets for Memphis. P.J. Washington went scoreless in 26 minutes, missing all five of his shots, while Dereck Lively II and Caleb Martin also failed to score in their combined 31 minutes.